Right HandMichele Batista has many memories of the late Lillian Burry, both regarding her dedication as a councilwoman, later Mayor of Colts Neck, and as freeholder/ commissioner for Monmouth County. But Michele, who has served for many years on the Friends of the Colts Neck Library, also has high praise for both Lillian and her husband, Don, for their long-time efforts in establishing and maintaining the Colts Neck Branch of the Monmouth County Library system.
Michele recalls that Donald Burry was Finance Chairman and a contributing member of the Construction Committee when donations were so generous and the community was so involved in the prospect of having its own library building. It was Mayor Lillian Burry who obtained a $100,000 grant from the state and a $35,000 donation from the County. It was the late Brenda Johnson along with the Honorable Lillian Burry who designed the interior of the Library.
In addition to her interactions with the late freeholder in a variety of areas, Batista was also office manager of Mrs. Burry’s own business, Colts Neck Realty, located on Route 537 in Colts Neck. It is because of all these memories that Michele wrote:
Lillian Burry was the queen of public servants at the town and county levels, as her principles were above par. Lillian was a role model for anyone looking to enter the political world where many sought her advice and some gained office on her coattails.
I started working for Lillian back in 2016, and witnessed a woman whose determination made things happen in Monmouth County. “No” was not an acceptable word in her vocabulary, as her list of accomplishments is lengthy. The plaque at Route 537 East before Route 34 now denotes Lillian’s epitaph, “A Persistence of Vision”.
I was honored to have her support for the Friends of the Colts Neck Library where she was instrumental in securing donations and helped design the library interior from its inception. Lillian always presented the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month proclamation with my Red Bank Gastro advocates, Dr Hampel and Nurse Woodward to raise awareness about the importance of being screened. Lillian was a sounding board for which I will forever be grateful for her advice and being included in her sphere of influence!
Rest in peace Boss.
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Whether it is absorbing the dynamic colors of a painting she just completed, seeing the smiles and excitement on the faces of a family for whom she found the perfect house, or showing her art work in a one woman show or at the Café Artiste in Ocean Grove, it is easy to see there are lots of things that keep Bonnie Ambrosia the happy and hard working woman she is.
The Tinton Falls resident, who was actually born on Long Island but raised in this Monmouth County town, settled here once again with her husband Rick, when the couple purchased a town house a couple of years ago. Now she feels she has come full circle and loves being back and in the residential area as well as continuing both her artwork and her professional position in real estate in Monmouth County.
Bonnie has been a realtor for more than 30 years and excels at her profession, a field she chose simply because “I love every minute of it.” She also has a passion for helping people buy or sell their homes, a work that comes as second nature to her after art.
That she excels in art as well as cannot be denied. While she holds an associate’s degree in art from Brookdale, a degree she earned by attending class at night while working full time and raising her children, it’s the medals, awards, and accolades she has received that keep her happy. She has a natural talent, a love of colors and an ability to create something joyous, happy, and eye catching.
The artist works in a lot of blues and greens, but admits that yellow is her favorite color, although she does not paint in it often. “Maybe I’m saving it for myself,” she laughs, “ It seems the public loves my blues and whites, and green/blues & white paintings … although I’m always surprised on what a person picks.”
Bonnie also admits she does not know how her finished piece will look, since while she has an idea when she starts, she prefers to let her mood, sometimes music, or the flow of the paint and her other tools guide the direction for the completed work of art.
The artist works primarily in acrylics, and chiefly on gallery wrapped canvas because of the versatility of the images she creates. She laughs when she says she uses “all kinds of tools” besides brushes, in order to include all her desired effects on canvas.
Gallery wrapped canvas refers to the appearance of her work with the canvas stretched and held taut as she is working. It creates the illusion of either a solid color or colors derived from the adjacent image spreading to the sides as well. The paint is also fast drying and non-toxic, Bonnie notes, both of which are important to her. The completed works are dimensional, with the colors spilling over the sides, and no need for any framing.
The list of Bonnie’s recognition for her talent appears endless and is definitely impressive. Her most recent award was a third-place last month in the Monmouth County Senior Art Show.
“It was a great event and I was honored and humbled to win and represent my age group, “ the busy and active lady explained. Although she herself is a senior citizen, she points out that “Seniors make up a sizable portion of the population and most of them seem to have time to explore their creative endeavors with extra time in retirement. I, on the other hand, am not retired. I work full time as a Realtor for Better Homes & Gardens, Murphy & Co, Red Bank.”
But that hasn’t stopped her from winning many other awards, including many 1st, 2nd, 3rd place ribbons, monetary awards, honorable mentions, achievement awards, through The Guild of Creative Arts in Shrewsbury, The Arts Society of Monmouth County in Middletown, and the Monmouth Arts in Red Bank.”
Bonnie is a member of each of those organizations, as well as the Art Alliance in Red Bank. She is affiliated with Locals Art Space in Asbury Park, a gallery which recently closed, when its owner/artist Patricia Arroyo accepted an opportunity to do large commission pieces for a benefactor.
But it is Arroya that this artist credits with launching her into the world of local art . “Tricia encouraged me to have a one-woman art exhibit at her gallery in Asbury Park in August of 2021. I exhibited close to 70 paintings at that first show and sold more than half of them. It was a super inspiration to forge on and work on putting my paintings out into the world.”
Bonnie has a talent for naming her paintings as well as creating them. She candidly admits “I name all my paintings, and I love that part of my work! The name comes to me as I’m working on it or when I complete it. I’m not a writer by profession, however with my career in Real Estate I have had to write descriptive copy for flyers, brochures, and listings on a daily basis and since I have always loved to write, beginning with writing in a journal as a young woman, and taking writing classes in college, it just seems to come easy to name my creations.”
Bonnie’s work is available to see on her website, BambrosiaCreations.com and is also available for sale. She’s currently looking for a store or restaurant where she can display some of her works and offer them for sale as well. Prices for her work range from $75 for smaller paintings to up to $650 for some of the larger works. She also offers special prices at exhibits including Art in the Park in Long Branch and other similar venues.
Another of the artist’s special locales is CAFE’ ARTISTE’ located in the former Neptune High School. The center houses a theater, art studios, classes, and more. Twice a month, there is original music, each band, usually about five, playing three to five original songs. While they are doing this, a visual artist paints on a stage on the side. Bonnie particularly enjoyed one of the nights she painted there, enthusing over the blend of talents in so many different fields.
With a husband to whom she’s devoted after nearly half a century together, a profession she loves and a talent that keeps others happy, Bonnie still has time to enjoy, brag about, and spend with her family, which includes two sons, Thomas, a published author, former Marine and retired Long Branch police officer, now a professional working in Homeland Security, and Jason, an environmentalist and civil engineers with the Army Corps of Engineers, a stepdaughter, Joni, now living in Washington State who travels to Europe to visit her daughter, an Air Force wife, and five grandchildren, four of them boys. Bonnie and Rick also helped raise another daughter, Victoria, after she lost her own mom when Victoria was a teenager.
“I’m happy to take on commissions as well,” this proud artist added. “I can paint any size and take the buyer’s choice for color schemes. I also have a business motto,” she grins, “ If the buyer doesn’t like the completed painting, they do not have to buy it. work with focus and determination to get it right. But if the buyer doesn’t feel it, I will show that painting in another show because I know it’s my best work.”
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The Harbor Commission will be leasing the Shore Casino for several days in late September and early October for use by Netflix.
At a meeting of the Commission last night, and following an executive session, the Commission unanimously agreed to continue negotiations with Netflix for use of the former half century old former restaurant and catering facility on a short term basis following the close of the restaurant and its takeover by the leasing commission.
Commission Chairman Thomas Wall said representatives of Netflix approached the Commission following the close of the Shore Casino and requested use of the building to be used for ten days over the period of a couple of weeks. Wall said Netflix is planning on filming a movie, and while they will not be using the building for the filming, they requested its use as a place for them to provide catered meals for their staff and others as well as for makeup and other uses. No filming will take place within the building he said.
Following the executive session, the board unanimously agreed to grant a temporary lease to Netflix pending final approval of the agreement. Wall anticipates the lease will run from late September into possibly early October and will not include weekends, but rather several days a week over the leased period.
No cost of the lease was made known during the meeting, though it is expected to be in the neighborhood of the more than $21,000 monthly paid by the Casino during its latest lease.
The Harbor announced that the closing of the Casino has also motivated the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club, which leases the upper level of the building, to rethink and want further discussion on the renewal of its lease, which expires at the end of the year.
It was noted that the Yacht Club, which draws considerable visitors to the borough, is also the third highest lease holder at the harbor, following Sea Streak and the Shore Casino before its closure. The Yacht Club lease, in addition to the second-floor facility with a dining room, also leases several slips at the commission’s piers to be one of the largest tenants. It has also received planning board approval for construction of an outdoor dining area over what was formerly the Galleon Room of the Shore Casino.
With the termination of the Shore Casino lease due to failure to make lease payments over the past five months, Commissioner Walter Curry noted that while the commission is on budget with expenses this month, it is down three per cent in income, due in part to the Shore Casino takeover, as well as weather conditions and a drop in fuel prices.
Harbor Commission attorney William McGuinn also reported the Commission is also scheduled for a possible trial date in Monmouth County Superior Court September 22 on the lawsuit brought by another leasee, Sea Tow, the towing firm that offers fast in-water assistant to boats throughout the area.
Sea Tow, which leases an office at the harbor, filed suit several years ago following construction of the facility citing a number of code violations in the building approved for lease. While the firm has continued to pay full rent for the facility throughout the years, it filed suit for construction to be corrected and compensation for settlement. McGuinn said that while a trial date has been set, negotiations are continuing, and a proposal has been made to reach an agreement on what still remains to be done at the building. And while Kappa Construction,who built the facility submitted its proposal, Mcquinn has he not had sufficient time to have it reviewed and has set another conference for September 9, indicating there appears to be some progress in settlement agreement.
The Commission also renewed its contract with Hurricane Marine, Products to provide the helix inspections for each of the 189 piers in the harbor at $29,950, the lower of two bidders as well as being the present provider.
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Former Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Councilman, who has also been a member of the Monmouth County Parks Commission for more than a quarter of a century, was a close friend of the late Lillian Burry, who died a home August 28. He recalls many of the activities in which the late freeholder and commissioner showed her love for preserving the beauty of Monmouth County as well as meeting the needs of a growing part of New Jersey.
Harmon wrote:
Monmouth County has so much to be grateful for including the wisdom to recognize leadership.
Since her election to the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders in 2005 and reelected 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 and again in 2020 in County Commissioner Lillian Burry has been the front-line leader of Monmouth County’s open space mission. It is about the quality of life in Monmouth County where we live. It is about vision. It is about planting seeds and being determined to see good ideas germinate and grow.
Monmouth County Parks has passed the 18,000-acre milestone plus thousands of acres of conservation easements and nearly 16,000 acres in the farmland preservation program where Lillian Burry has provided decades of leadership.
I nicknamed Lillian as “Monmouth County’s First Lady of Open Space ”. It is interesting that the throne once held by Monmouth Conservation leader Judy Stanley Coleman of Middletown, a mentor of Lillian Burry.
Seed are plants and the flowers bloom. Ms. Judy Stanley and Middletown officials planted the seed and County Commissioner Burry and County Commissioner Director Arnone made the Swimming River Park grow. The Swimming and Navesink River Greenway which encompasses Tinton Falls, Colts Neck, Middletown, Shrewsbury, Red Bank, Fair Haven and Rumson is combination of municipal cooperation, grant projects and outright riverfront land purchases have addressed our many neighbors who have embraced kayaking, crew boats, canoeing, paddle boarding and access to the rivers.
Swimming River Park is a new park at the former Chris’s Landing on West Front Street in Middletown with a kayak and small boat launch and areas for programs. Great crabbing too. A new seating area at Swimming River Park in Middletown that pays tribute to Judith Stanley Coleman (1935 – 2010) and Lillian Burry made sure to be at the dedication to speak (see photo).
When I first met Lillian, she was accompanied by this big guy Don who I first thought must be a body guard, or something. In fact, husband Don made a point of accompanying Lillian on her hectic schedule. One day she showed me her calendar and the number of events scheduled was staggering. Don was also a lot of fun and really knows his stocks. He can drive too.
Lillian was a realtor who understood that owners of farms love their properties and often wish to have them preserved. Yet there are families and children and different interests. With large checks being waved around by developers, Ms. Burry understood that a fair price was essential to the maximum preservation of lands whether purchased outright or with a conservation easement.
In Long Branch, Asbury Park and along our coast, the Monmouth County Commissioners opened new doors and dialogue in renewed efforts to provide parks, open space and recreation programs in our densely-populated urban areas. Commissioner Burry was actively involved in the construction of Sunset Park in Asbury which was built by Asbury with help from municipal grants administered by the Parks and the Monmouth County Commissioners. Lillian and Don attended weekly lunches in Neptune and Asbury to build the relationships and trust needed to foster County and Municipal partnerships.
Finally, Lillian Burry and her fellow County Commissioners were committed to salvage some good from the crushing economic blow of the federal closing of Fort Monmouth. Face it, our federal officials dropped the ball. Again County Commissioner Burry and County Commissioner Arnone led the charge as Board Members of FMERA. The Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) was created to guide the investment, growth and integration of Fort Monmouth and the surrounding communities. As such, FMERA advanced the Fort Monmouth Reuse and Redevelopment Plan, developed in 2008 as a blueprint to promote and encourage employment, commerce and economic development at the former installation, while protecting the Fort’s natural resources and honoring its rich history.
The results are impressive including the retention of the golf course, the construction, hundreds of new homes and the restoration of Officer’s Row. Monmouth County Parks has been able to obtain the 18,000 square foot top-of-the-line first class recreational facility for free. Netflix is transforming the former Fort Monmouth Army base in New Jersey into a massive, Hollywood-style film and television production campus. The $903 million project includes multiple sound stages, production buildings, water tanks, a hotel, and retail spaces, aiming to become a major East Coast production hub.
Rest in Peace Lillian. Thank you and Don for helping the Monmouth County garden grow.
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Communal All are invited to attend and participate in the monthly Prayers on the Porch, held on the second Tuesday of every month at a variety of locations within Atlantic Highlands.
On Tuesday, September 9, Prayers on the Porch will be held at 6:30 at Veteran’s Park, First Avenue, opposite Borough Hall.
The neighborhood tradition, which was started by former Mayor Loretta Gluckstein more than four years ago, is an opportunity for people of all religious to get together with their neighbors and friends for 30 minutes of prayer.
Since it started, the group has met on a variety of residential porches, church yards and back yards, with some bringing their own lawn chairs, others standing for the brief get together.
“We thought it would be particularly special to have the September Prayers on the Porch at Veterans Park,” Gluckstein said, “and we will all be sharing special prayers for all those killed on September 11, 2001.”
Neighbors are invited to join in silent prayer or offering thoughts or prayers for particular people or causes. “It’s all very casual, it never lasts more than half an hour, and it gives neighbors the chance to join in each other’s prayers,” Gluckstein said, in noting the popularity of the monthly program. “We invite everyone to stop in and see why we have been doing this for these past years.”
The next Prayers on the Porch will be at Veteran’s Park across from borough hall, Tuesday September 9th at 6:30 pm Hope you can make it .
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Fair Winds Commander Tracie Smith Yeoman, USN (ret) was Senior NJROTC training instructor at MAST, although she had known the last Commissioner for many years as an active historian and family friend. Retired in January, Commander Smith-Yeoman’s fondest memories of Commissioner Lillian G. Burry focus on the important role she played in the lives of cadets at MAST
The retired Naval officer, a native of Highlands who lives in Bayville in Ocean County, wrote:
It is difficult to capture the many ways Commissioner Burry has touched the lives of so many people. I first met her when she became a Monmouth County Freeholder and I quickly learned of her deep commitment not only to Monmouth County, but also to preserving American history.
I truly came to know Commissioner Burry, however, during my tenure as Senior Naval Science Instructor at the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) at Sandy Hook. She was a steadfast supporter of MAST, often calling it “her” school. She attended countless events, congratulated the cadets, and consistently reminded them of the value of their education and the opportunities available to them as students at such a prestigious and historic campus. Commissioner Burry tirelessly championed the ideals of MAST and the excellence of its Naval Science program, taking every opportunity to highlight the cadets’ accomplishments and to share her pride in them with the wider community.
When the Monmouth County Vocational School District began exploring the possibility of restoring two historic Fort Hancock buildings for MAST’s Naval Science department, it was Commissioner Burry who brought the idea forward and fought determinedly for the funding to make it a reality. Thanks to her leadership, one of the buildings was rebuilt and today serves as the NJROTC supply storage and issue facility.
Unfortunately, after her time as commissioner ended, momentum for completing the second building — intended as an indoor space for cadets to drill, march, and present programs — stalled. This was especially heartbreaking as the project combined two of Mrs. Burry’s passions: preserving history and supporting the military, even at the NJROTC level. She often spoke of MAST as part of her legacy, and it is tragic she did not see this vision fully realized.
Unlike the historic building that still waits to be restored, Commissioner Burry’s graciousness, vision, and unwavering dedication to the United States — both its past and its future — remain unshakable. Her faith in a strong and bright future lives on in the students of MAST, who continue to benefit from her passion, leadership, and belief in their potential. I am honored to be able to say that I knew Lillian Burry, and the impact she has had on me and countless others is immense. Her dedication to service, her love of community, and her deep appreciation for history have left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of working with her. Lillian was more than a public servant—she was a mentor, a supporter, and a friend whose influence will continue to be felt for generations.
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Nelson Kuperberg and Dr. David Giffler now live in Arizona but they were close, warm friends of both Lillian and Don Burry for many years. Their historic home in Freehold as well as the Burry home in Colts Neck were two beautiful homes where these friends shared many afternoons and evenings, David wrote the following from both him and Nelson. Upon the death of Lillian G. Burry August 28.
There aren’t many people in our lives aside from immediate family whose memory will burn brightly after they’re gone. Our dear friend Lillian Burry is one of the few. We first met Lillian after I became chair of the Freehold Borough Republican Committee and began to attend county events.
Here was a woman obviously prominent and influential who took the time to introduce herself and make myself and my husband comfortable and welcomed. From that point on, Lillian and Don developed a lasting friendship with the two of us that included invitations to each other’s homes as well as regular meals at Huddy’s.
We loved the summer barbecues with her family and happily supported her during her many successful political campaigns. We didn’t always agree on each and every political issue but respected each other enough to never let it interfere with our friendship. Nelson and I will miss the many laughs and great times that we shared.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to our dear friend Don as well Lenore, Alba and the rest of the family. Rest in peace Lillian.
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Remember Both Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon and Shrewsbury former Mayor Donald Burden expressed their own personal thoughts and memories of Lillian G. Burry, the former Monmouth County freeholder and commissioner who passed away Aug. 28. Mrs. Burry’s funeral will be on Tuesday, September 9, at 11 a.m. at Colts Neck Reformed Church, 139 Rt. 537, Colts Neck.
Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon
Mayor Broullon wrote:
Lillian Burry was a testament to class, commitment and dedication. She was a force of nature that worked tirelessly for the residents of Monmouth County. Her accomplishments are too many to list and will forever keep her name as one of the premiere civil servants of our time.
Former Shrewsbury Mayor Don Burden
Former Mayor Burden, who also served with the Freeholder on the Monmouth County Library Commission, and was a friend who shared deep appreciation for Monmouth County history and knowledge of the importance of the county during the American Revolution, in recalling some of his favorite memories of the Commissioner, said
Shrewsbury was always a part of Lillian’s life. Whether reading part of the Declaration at the annual 4th of July event at the Allen House, attending to meetings and functions at her treasured Eastern Branch of the Monmouth County Library, swearing me in as Mayor of Shrewsbury, attending ribbon cuttings for Shrewsbury’s businesses, participating in events at the Shrewsbury Historical Society, or family holiday visits to her Shrewsbury family, Lillian will always be remembered fondly by the Shrewsbury Community.
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Congressman Chris Smith was one of the first to express the sympathy of himself and his wife at the passing of Lillian G. Burry.
Lillian Burry and her husband, Don
A friend of both Lillian Burry and her husband, Don, the Congressman was frequently at public events praising the former mayor and freeholder for her role in accomplishing great achievements, be it for a scout troop, veterans, or the community at large.
In his message, the Congressman wrote:
“My wife Marie and I offer our prayers and deepest condolences to Lillian’s devoted husband and best friend—Don—and to all their family, friends and loved ones.
“Lillian Burry was a very special woman and she will be missed.
“Over the course of several years, I had the great honor of working with this amazing former Monmouth County Freeholder Director and Colts Neck Mayor.
“I admired her deep commitment to public service, her quick wit, sense of humor, courage and tenacity to get things done.
“The lives of so many—including and especially veterans—were blessed by her work.
“Among the many examples, Lillian boldly led the effort to provide housing to homeless veterans which resulted in the Gordon Mansfield Veterans Community in Tinton Falls—a model for the nation.”
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The funeral for Lillian. G. Burry, former Colts Neck Mayor and Monmouth County Freeholder, well known and highly respected patriot and beloved wife, mother grandmother and great grandmother will be Tuesday, September 8 at the Colts Neck Reformed Church, Route 537, Colts Neck.
Visitation will be Monday, September 7, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 South Holmdel Road, Holmdel. Burial will follow at the Atlantic Cemetery in Colts Neck.
Mrs. Burry died Thursday, August 28 at home.
Born January 15, 1936 in New York City, she was the daughter of Luigi Beneforti and Rina Beneforti (nee Scotto). She attended public schools and Wagner College, graduating Cum Laude with a B.A. Degree in Political Science & History. She was elected to the National History Fraternity and in 2005 was granted the Wagner College Fellow in Political Science.
Married to Donald Burry for 70 years, the couple lived in Matawan where Mrs. Burry began her public service as a councilwoman. After moving to Colts Neck, she served as Committeewoman, Deputy Mayor, and Mayor, making her mark in historic preservation and open space conservation. Mrs. Burry negotiated the purchase of the Montrose schoolhouse, the only publicly owned one-room schoolhouse in Colts Neck. This was accomplished at the cost of $1 from the township’s former Historical Society.
Elected to the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders in November 2005, she was reelected in 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 and reelected to the Board of County Commissioners in 2020. She served as the first woman Director in 2008 and again in 2010, 2014 and 2017. She was the liaison to the Board of Elections, Planning Board, Agricultural Board, Library, Historic Commission and Consumer Affairs.
Mrs. Burry was appointed to the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority serving as Vice Chair and to the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority, where she chaired the Veterans Affairs Sub-Committee and served on the Real Estate Sub-Committee. She was appointed by the Commissioner of the Interior, to the Fort Hancock 21st Century Advisory Committee for the National Park Service.
Throughout her life, Mrs. Burry was the recipient of many awards citing her achievements in the areas of history, education, preservation, Open Space, scouting and in the numerous and varied fields she strived to maintain and improve. Some of her awards included the Marine Corps League Distinguished Citizen, the Sheriff ’s Officers Fraternal Order of Police Person of the Year, the Historical Association’s Person of the Year, the Latino American Association’s Outstanding Community Member and the Eastern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce Spinnaker Award for Public Service.
She was awarded the 2017 Silver Gull Award’s Presidential Award, as well as, the 2017 NJ Women of Achievement Award from the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs; the Monmouth Council Boy Scouts of America (BSA) “Good Scout” Award in 2019 for her leadership and commitment to service at the 20th Annual Good Scouts of Western Monmouth; the Township of Ocean Historical Museum – History Champion Award in 2019; the Brookdale Community College’s Wilbur Ray Community Service Award in April 2020 for exceptional commitment to the community; and the Community Public Servants Award from the Vin Gopal Civic Association in May 2022. She was the first person to receive the Women in History Citation from the Middletown Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Additionally, Commissioner Burry received the Outstanding Service to Agriculture Award and was Grand Marshal of the Open Space Pace Parade ; she received the first Count Basie Vanguard Award for lifetime devotion to the Arts and In 2015, she received the first M. Claire French Award, recognizing her leadership in Historical Preservation . In 2016, the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore honored her as a Women of Distinction.
She strived for several years to complete a joint effort she had been highly instrumental in originating by the Vocational Schools, National Park System, and the Freeholders to reconstruct Buildings 23 and 56 on Fort Hancock for the Marine Academy of Science and Technology. One of the two buildings has been completed and is used by MAST cadets in the NJROTC program.
Working in a collaborative effort with the Soldier On organization she found a home for homeless veterans of Monmouth County that opened in November 2021. In May 2023, a Veterans Community Wing was named for Commissioner Burry.
Mrs. Burry was in business for more than 40 years as owner and broker of record of Colts Neck Realty. Married to Donald, a retired Captain from the Coast Guard, they have one daughter and two grandchildren.
Mrs. Burry is survived by her beloved husband of 70 years, Donald L. Burry; her daughter, Lenore Manicioto and her husband Robert Burns of Atlantic Highlands; her sister Alba DiBello and her husband Patrick of Shrewsbury; her grandchildren Stephanie Manicioto and her partner James, Vito Manicioto and his wife Pamela; and great-grandchildren Luca, Lorenzo and Rocco.
In lieu of flowers, at the family’s request donations can be made to Colts Neck Reformed Church.
The obituary of former Monmouth County Freeholder /Commissioner Lillian G Burry outlines many of the areas in which the former Colts Neck Mayor and longtime activist has made her mark on history and Monmouth County,
During the next several days before Mrs Burry’s funeral September 8, VeniVidiScripto will publish a number of personal remembrances from friends and political and leaders in some of the many fields in which she excelled. Many of the memories highlight the warm friendship Mrs Burry had that transcended the political differences that sometimes drew attention away from her numerous accomplishments.
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